Missing several of their new signings, the Oakland Roots fell 4-2 to Orange County SC in both of the team’s season opener.
Heading into the game, new signings Jürgen Damm, Peter Wilson, Bobosi Byaruhanga, and Julian Bravo were not on the roster. Neveal Hackshaw, perhaps the best returning Roots player, was also not playing.
In the first half, the Roots were able to play the home side tough, only conceding a well-built-up goal finished by Ryan Doghman on an Orange County fast break.
However the game got out of reach in the first ten minutes of the second half thanks to two spectacular strikes by OC.
Two minutes into the half, OC’s Ethan Zubak got his head onto a shot from Cameron Dunbar and redirected it past Roots goalkeeper Kendall McIntosh.
Five minutes later, a defensive breakdown by the wall on a free kick allowed Orange County’s Nico Benalcázar to curl in his shot from just outside the box and give OC a 3-0 lead.
Roots substitute Wolfgang Prentice gave Oakland a glimmer of hope, converting his first-ever goal for the team by slotting a shot into the net from the left side of the box in the 71st minute.
But OC held off the Roots and converted an insurance goal from Kyle Scott in the 91st minute.
Just before the final whistle, Oakland’s Baboucarr Njie was taken down in the penalty box. He stepped to the spot and converted for the final 4-2 scoreline.
The Roots will look for a positive result against the NorCal Rivals, Monterey Bay FC, on the road next Saturday before making their home-opening debut in the Oakland Coliseum on March 22nd against San Antonio FC.
